What happened: Walt Weiss said Atlanta is weighing Sale's two-inning relief outing Thursday as it maps out the next two games of the NLDS. He added that a Game 3 start would not eliminate Chris Sale from appearing in a winner-take-all game later in the series.

Why it matters: That leaves Atlanta's biggest pitching decision unresolved deeper into the postseason schedule and preserves flexibility between a start and shorter work later in the round. Weiss's comments point to recovery and coverage across multiple games, not just lining Sale up for one date on the calendar.

What to watch: Atlanta's next update will show whether Sale is held for Game 2 or pushed back another day. That choice will also clarify how the Braves plan to use him if the series reaches a deciding game.